jiggawhat

Points: 1,641, Level: 24

Activity: 18.2%

While the idiots here in America think that charging people to get good at this very complicated game will grow the community, etf2l and valve start up a highlander league that's sure to grow their scene

http://etf2l.org/2010/08/09/the-high...ity-challenge/

And then they wonder why NA tf2 is dying

Sway

Points: 2,514, Level: 32

Activity: 16.7%

Hm.

The event sounds interesting.

You being a dick doesn't, though.

jiggawhat

Points: 1,641, Level: 24

Activity: 18.2%

Its true, you want me to lie about it?

DrHeadcrab

Points: 319, Level: 6

Activity: 16.7%

Finally this event started. It was announced in like what, fucking April? I got a team together and it fell apart in the middle of the summer :/ That's what happened to most teams I think... thats what they get for delaying it so much.

Kermit

Points: 2,823, Level: 34

Activity: 0%

Yeah, that'll definitely get some people into comp. ETF2L and Valve doing it big.

Graham

Points: 87,431, Level: 100

Activity: 8.3%

We're going to do something similar with CommFT. Been planning it for a while. And no, NA TF2 is not dying.

MjrNuT

Points: 1,634, Level: 24

Activity: 0%

So what's the hold up?



They've exceeded their initial 160 team slot count. This is such a poor recruitment method of new players to the game...amirite?

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MjrNuT
Flames and Ash Gaming

Para Goomba

Points: 1,387, Level: 21

Activity: 8.3%

They are planning on expanding the slot numbers, there are currently 187/160 teams registered. You can't leave 27 TEAMS out of the competition.

Zigzter

Points: 2,563, Level: 32

Activity: 0%

I wonder how many players really are new to competitive TF2.

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Player coL.PYYYOUR left the game (Kicked by Console)
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turbomonkey138

Points: 533, Level: 10

Activity: 9.1%

Quite a few people are making different new accounts to fuck up the system . Div 3 teams are all making new accounts and buying new copies of tf2 to troll this i guarantee it .

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Para Goomba

Points: 1,387, Level: 21

Activity: 8.3%

Buying new copies of tf2......what losers, yet Valve is win.

MjrNuT

Points: 1,634, Level: 24

Activity: 0%

*bump*

Most probably may not care about here, but when the Challenge started, it was still impacted with teams...by about a factor of 4. Started with 900+ teams actually registered correctly. Many teams put on the waiting list also.

Of course when the Group Stage started (Round robin play of max 4 teams), some groups fully played, while others had drops and/or no shows. You get that alot more for teams formed straight out of Communities. The ET2L admins did sort groups based on location (e.g,. NA teams grouped together, and EU grouped together) as best as possible. Kudos for that.

Anyways, Group Stage is finished and 1st Round of Playoffs starting (should) this week or next.

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MjrNuT
Flames and Ash Gaming

Graham

Points: 87,431, Level: 100

Activity: 8.3%

Nice, good to know.

buzz

Points: 25, Level: 1

Activity: 6.1%

Yeah my team was in the waiting list but we didn't get a place in the tournament. The fact it was so oversubscribed though is a brilliant show of how TF2 is not dying.

Cash50

Points: 2,238, Level: 30

Activity: 25.0%

When do i get my medal???

ymmud

Points: 1,791, Level: 25

Activity: 25.0%

if i see nother one of those threads cash ill kill myself (on etf2l) :D

Cash50

Points: 2,238, Level: 30

Activity: 25.0%

hahahahahhaa.

I only play for the medal.

DrHeadcrab

Points: 319, Level: 6

Activity: 16.7%

and that kind of attitude is exactly why this tournament will do nothing for getting more pubbies into comp play

MjrNuT

Points: 1,634, Level: 24

Activity: 0%

@ymmd -- true dat man!!

@Cash50 -- apparently when the tournament is entirely completed. Medal is awarded to those on the roster after Group Play, w/o any FFL (i.e., no shows), or is placed 1 to 3rd at the end.

@DrHeadcrab -- too late!! I have a feeling it won't matter. Medals from Valve and their advertisement of the Challenge is what will draw in Pubbies. (.)

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MjrNuT
Flames and Ash Gaming

Daystar

Points: 930, Level: 17

Activity: 75.0%

My community's team showed up for every match, but lost both. (Only had two to play, because a French team turned out to have all but four of their players above the div/skill limit!)

Meh. I think the competition itself is an absolutely brilliant achievement. Think of the number of people playing the game seriously!

MjrNuT

Points: 1,634, Level: 24

Activity: 0%

^agreed. Just how will the outcome be received when over though? It has garnered alot more interest...yet still in the large size format.

How many ppl here even consider HL as a viable comp. format? I'd say it is quite viable given how much more mature the game is, along with the player base. Harder to keep a team of 9 together agreed, but I think that is a bit lessened from my maturity comment. Spreading of pressure to different classes, with exception of the medic (I think). He has to buff, realistically, 7 class (excluding spy and sniper). Just some things I've picked up on for this HL format, especially since personally I am not able to have the dedication of true demoman in 6v6. :(

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Flames and Ash Gaming

DrHeadcrab

Points: 319, Level: 6

Activity: 16.7%

See, that is exactly the thing. Most people in this tournament will decide they have no motivation for a 6v6. All they want is HL, cause they are too attatched to playing Spy, but there really aren't many options for HL. I mean. Outside the tournament, ETF2L has the ladder, but I don't think any other league suppots 9v9? I don't think there is any 9v9 leagues in NA. So people will just return to pubbing after the tournament is done.

If there could be 9v9 leagues set up, I think it would really help bridge the gap between pubstar and 6v6. Highlander medic is difficult indeed, but the experience of medicing in a highlander should be fine to ease medics into playing 6v6. The only class I think wouldn't benefit from 9v9 before 6v6 play is the Scout, imo. On most highlander maps the Scout just gets completely neutralized by the sentries or the Heavies.

I wonder if I am getting a medal too, I was a bencher/buddy :< Idc if I do or not, but I haven't actually played, just mentored.

shdw.puppet

Points: 3,599, Level: 39

Activity: 66.7%

the relative difficulty of 9v9 isnt as big as it seems. In all reality, you are still only healing a heavy/soldier/demo with a scout running by for a buff and a pyro getting ready for his burn run. sniper/spy dont really take anything more than a quick flick buff and engineers are almost always right next to their very own, albeit stationary, medic. With the slower, less back and forth, uber centric gameplay, I think medic is easier, not harder.

DrHeadcrab

Points: 319, Level: 6

Activity: 16.7%

it is harder for the medic with the pubstar team.
The average pubstar don't realize why it's important to protect their medic and generally just go for fragging power because that's what brings them dominance in pubs. The pub medic does not really understand how/why/when to call pushes and generally just gives his uber to the person who whines the most for it. Seen it happen with a lot of the teams in the lower brackets of the tournament/ladder. Those at the top are significantly more organized and likely have 6v6 experience. It doesn't apply to everyone of course, just for the most part, yes, highlander medic is a harder to play with a lesser experienced team because they don't understand the dynamics.

Also, a lot of the difficulty comes from organizing comms from 9 different people all doing different tasks, and co-ordinating them. I mean, people have a hard enough time co-ordinating 6 people. The fact that one of your team members may be a pub rager just makes this even harder...

shdw.puppet

Points: 3,599, Level: 39

Activity: 66.7%

ok, I see your point now. The HL team I was on was all comp players, so I never had that problem.

MjrNuT

Points: 1,634, Level: 24

Activity: 0%

Concur. I'd only add that this challenge:So...

Pretty moot when there is experience on board. Most likely...less comm chatter too.

C'mon you know what ragga muffin crew I gots!

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MjrNuT
Flames and Ash Gaming

MjrNuT

Points: 1,634, Level: 24

Activity: 0%

Meant to also respond to this.

I think that will happen as you say...drift back to pubbing. To speak to NA offerings, TWL has had a ladder since like forever. I can't speak to its activity. Also, UGCleague. They are reporting a revamp to start Jan 2011.

I'd prefer a HL league over a ladder. I actually made a post on ETF2L supporting that HL should be a standard offering. If it's one way to bring in fresh meat, then why not? The first stepping stone, morever, just like 6v6 players like to change up classes season to season, I'd contend that main Spy will look to change up too.


As for a medal....if you are on the roster before end of Group play and no FFL, then you'll be given the participation one. That is my understanding and it makes sense. The goal was for all teams to play all Group matches...meaning make the effort. Signing up and not showing up...forfeits the medal.

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MjrNuT
Flames and Ash Gaming

Hawkeye

Points: 5,566, Level: 51

Activity: 8.3%

League would be interesting, but I honestly not sold on a team of 9 can hold it together. A ladder would be a trial long to see if teams generally stay around for an entire season before we commit to it.

Even in 6v6, I expect maybe 20-30% teams collapse during the season (in TWL/CEVO) If we have to maintain 9+ alternates, it might get downright messy and could really spoil the game mode if a league collapses. I would go ladder for a bit to see how things shake out and give the communities an easy time to hop in play a few matches and get their feet wet.

CHE

Points: 2,790, Level: 34

Activity: 25.0%

This is America, ESEA (sadly) is a business, this is all capitalism. Its what we are known for. That's our thing :p. Anyone is going to find a way to make a buck out of something.

MjrNuT

Points: 1,634, Level: 24

Activity: 0%

I had the same thinking in mind until I saw the activity level at TWL for their HL ladder and that of UGC. By no means a reflection on the admins, but there is no activity. UGC, just based on what I could see public, had a recent HL League...but teams dropped enough to stop it. Hence they are restarting anew in January. I hope they get out and advertise more....


A ladder is purely dependent on team interest. A regular routine per week, just like 6v6 standard is needed to give it life, I think. A ladder allows to much of an opportunity for an OUT. Remember, I'm speaking from the standpoint of NEW/LOW players straight out of Pub communities.

Example//

I've watched a match on granary where a team lost their first round..and thought it was all done and over. Some of the players on Red team...started asking in chat, so slowed down the rollout. They lost 2nd round..and one person DC'ed just thinking the match was done. Blu team...didn't really help the situation and kinda let it happen, so they got a "accidental" win. Red team went down to 6 people and tied back to 3-3. Blue team started trolling and changed the map to end it. Not cool imo. yes the Red team should have known, but it could have been salvaged for a real match.

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MjrNuT
Flames and Ash Gaming